Tub washing construction



Dec 10, 1958 G. F. WELLMAN TUB WASHING CONSTRUCTION 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2l, 1966 "umw- Dec. 10, 1968 G. F. WELLMAN TUB WASHING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2l, 1966 L l I I l l l l l l l l United states Patent o 3,415,257 TUB WASHING CONSTRUCTION Glenn F. Wellman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Wellco Chemical Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 595,965 11 Claims. (Cl. 134-98) This invention relates to a construction for washing tubs of the type employed for the handling ,of chemicals.

In industries requiring the use of various chemicals, it is often necessary to employ tubs lfor the handling of the chemicals. For example, latex, resin, polyvinylacetate, paint, lacquer and varnish type materials are placed in tubs for a variety of reasons. It is often necessary, for example, to mix such chemicals together to achieve certain products. It is also `quite common to place the chemicals in tubs when additives are to be included in the chemicals so that a large batch can be mixed in a relatively efcient manner. It is also common to employ tubs for purposes of temporary storage or for transporting chemicals from place to place.

The tubs commonly employed by various industries are quite large and it is, therefore, necessary to provide means for re-using the tubs since it would be unduly expensive to discard them after use. Since re-use is necessary, cleaning of the tubs becomes critical since otherwise residue from one batch of chemicals would contaminate the next batch of chemicals placed in the tubs.

Means have previously been provided for cleaning the tubs to the extent that contamination can be avoided. Thus, solvents rand other cleaning agents are available which will eventually remove residue for virtually all known chemicals.

Methods employed for the cleaning of tubs have not, however, been entirely satisfactory. It has been found that the tub cleaning operations are quite time-consuming due, in part, to setting up of the cleaning equipment. In addition, the cleaning equipment often comprises means which enclose the tubs in a chamber during the cleaning operation. For this reason, the cleaning equipment must be `quite large and expensive. Cleaning equipment is also employed which does not provide for eicient use of the cleaning materials, and therefore, expense is added because of the added cost of these materials. Finally, various installations for cleaning tubs are only capable of handling one tub Ior a small number of tubs at a time. This lalso -adds to the expense and time-consuming characteristics of known arrangements.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a cleaning system for chemical tubs which overcomes the disadvantages of various systems currently in use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a construction for the cleaning of chemical tubs which is characterized -by a highly efficient operation, and which is adapted to clean tubs in a relatively short period of time while providing the most efiicient use of cleaning materials.

It is a still further Iobject of this invention to provide a tub cleaning construction which is itself relatively small in size and relatively inexpensive, which employs a minimum number of relatively uncomplicated components, and which is adapted to handle a large lnumber of tubs in a single cleaning operation.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the tub cleaning system of this invention;

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FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of a contemplated modied version of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational `view of the construction shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a tank construction of the type preferably employed in the arnangement of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken about the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4; and,

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken about the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4.

The construction of this invention generally comprises a tank which is designed primarily for holding a suitable cleaning agent. It will be understood in considering the description of this invention that the particular type Iol. cleaning agent employed is not critical. Thus, various solvents, detergents, and other cleaning materials are readily available with the particular type employed depending upon the type of chemical residue remaining in the tub.

The tank construction is provided with a plurality of booms, and a lid construction is attached to each of the booms. The tubs which are to be cleaned comprise wheeled vehicles usually circular in cross section and having a wide, open top. The lid constructions are designed whereby they will sit down over the top rim of the tubs to completely close oil the open tops thereof.

Each lid construction is provided with a spray head which extends downwardly from the lid construction. When the lids are in pla-ce, the spray head will extend into the interior of the tubs. Accordingly, the cleaning agent can be sprayed outwardly from the head for subsequent uniform contact with all lof the surfaces to be cleaned. Suitable conduits are provided tor delivering the cleaning agent to the tubs and for withdrawing the cleaning agent.

The construction illustrated in the drawing comprises a tank 10 having a door 12 hinged thereto. The tank may merely comprise a receptacle for holding a suitable cleaning agent, however, suitable lters may be utilized, and it is also contemplated that the tank could be compartmented for holding dilerent types of cleaning agents.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate the provision of upright supports 14 located on the sides of the tank. In FIGURE 2 a boom 15 extends outwardly from one side of the tank to provide two support stations. In FIGURE 3, booms 16 extend transversely between the supports 14 with the ends thereof providing four boom arrangements.

Each of the Ibooms has a pneumatic cylinder 18 attached thereto. The pistons 20 of the cylinders are attached to lid constructions 22 whereby the lids can be raised and lowered.

Tubs 24 are adapted to be moved into position beneath the lid constructions 22. In accordance with conventional practice, the tubs are provided with wheels 26, and they all include `a wide open top 28. A drain outlet 30 including a shut-oil valve is associated with each of the tanks.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URE 3, the front and rear walls of the tank 10 are provided with mounting means for holding the devices utilized during a cleaning operation. The devices include a pair of pump motors 32 and 34 and associated pumps 33 and 35. Each of the pumps is attached to conduits whereby fluids from the tank 10 can be circulated to provide for a cleaning operation.

The conduits comprise a line 36 extending from the interior of the tank to a valve 38 which is adapted to be operated by lever 40. The line 36 extends to pump 35 and to a line 41 which in turn branches oi into delivery lines 42. Hose connections 44 extend from the delivery lines to the lid constructions 22. The hose connections are adapted to deliver the cleaning agents in the tank to the spray heads 46.

Return lines 48 are adapted to be connected to the drain outlets 30 by means of suitable releasable couplings. The return lines extend to line 50 which is connected to pump 33. The pump moves the liquid to the valve 52 and through the valve to line 54, this latter line being connected to the interior of the tank near the top thereof.

To provide for cleaning of a tank, the pump motors 32 and 34 are operated, and the valves 38 and 52 are opened by means of levers 40 and 56 to provide communication with the tank through lines 36 and 54. The cleaning agent is passed through the line 36, the valve 38, line 41, delivery lines 42 and hose connections 44. This provides for introduction of the cleaning agent into the interior of the tubs 24.

Circulation of the cleaning agent is provided by passing the agent out of the drain outlets 30 through return lines 48, line 50, valve 52 and line 54. It will be apparent that complete circulation of all of the cleaning agent is provided, and this can be continued for the desired duration of the cleaning cycle. Obviously, valves may be inserted at appropriate points in the respective lines to permit use of all of the cleaning stations simultaneously or to provide for cutting off of certain stations whereby any number of the stations can be employed.

The illustrated arrangement also includes a line 58 which is connected through valve 38 to the line 41. A second additional line 60 is connected through valve 52 to the line 50. When the levers 40 and 56 are shifted from the positions shown, the respective valves 38 and 52 are adapted to close ot communication with the tank by shutting off the ends of the respective lines 36 and 54.

With the construction arranged in this position, a rinse solution is adapted to be passed in through line 58 and then passed through line 41, delivery lines 42 and hose connections 44 to the spray heads 46. A return of the rinse solution is provided through return lines 48 and valve 52 to the line 60. It will be apparent that this arrangement provides a simple means for by-passing the tank whereby the identical mechanisms illustrated can be employed for a rising operation as well as for the cleaning operation. The rinse solution could be circulated between a separate tank holding the solution or the solution could be otherwise disposed of where the materials are not to be saved for later use.

The tank construction illustrated in FIGURE 4 has the li ;:s 36 and 54 communicating with its interior. An additional outlet 68 may be located adjacent the bottom of the tank for drainage purposes.

The line 54 is adapted to pass the cleaning agent into a basin 70. The basin includes a dividing wall 72 and an outer wall 74. An opening 76 in the dividing wall cornmunicates the two compartments of this basin.

A plurality of filters 78 are positioned within the respective compartments of the basin. It will be apparent that all of the cleaning agent entering through the line 54 will pass through the filters of the first compartment and then through the opening 76 into the second compartment. The cleaning agent will again be filtered after which it will spill over the wall 74 primarily through cut-out 80.

Each of the lters comprises a rectangular member adapted to be positioned by means of tracks 81 attached to the interior walls 74 and 72 and to the side wall 83 of the tank. A handle 8S is provided for each filter whereby the filters can be readily removed for replacement or cleaning.

The cleaning agent collected within the main body of the tank will be available for passage out through the line 36 in accordance with a desired cycle of operation. In order to further condition the cleaning agent, a resistance heating element 82 is adapted to be supported within the main body of the tank by means of suitable brackets 84. By providing appropriate electrical connections, the cleaning agent can be maintained at a desired temperature for purposes of achieving the most efficient cleaning action.

The tank may also be supplied with an over-flowing shelf 86 leading to a suitable outlet 88 whereby the danger of spillage can be eliminated.

The pneumatic cylinder and piston arrangement 18 and 20 is adapted to be operated through lines 62 and 64 which are Connected to a control arrangement 66 mounted on the end wall of the construction. It will be apparent that the raising and lowering of the lid constructions as well as operation of the levers 40 and 56 can be carried out quite readily by a single operator standing adjacent the end wall of the construction. Obviously, additional lines can be attached to the conduits leading from the valves whereby several cleaning operations can be controlled by the same valve operations. On the other hand, other sets of controls can be located on the tanks where desired. It will also be apparent that more than one tank could be included in the system as a means for increasing the capacity of the entire operation.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the arrangement described which provide the characteristics of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof particularly as defined in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A construction'for use in the cleaning of tubs used for the handling of chemicals comprising a tank for holding a cleaning agent, a plurality of booms attached to said tank, a lid construction attached to each of said booms, said lid construction Ibeing dimensioned to extend over the open top of said tubs to thereby close said tubs, a spray head associated with each lid construction, said spray heads extending downwardly from said lid constructions whereby the spray heads extend into the interiors of said tubs when said lid constructions are in place over the tubs, conduits extending between said tubs and said tank, and means for passing said cleaning agent through said conduits for circulation between said tubs and said tank.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tubs are provided with drain outlets at the bottoms of the tubs, and wherein said conduits comprise first conduit means extending between said tank and said spray heads, and second conduit means extending be- Atween said outlets and said tank.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 2 comprising first and second valves associated with the respective first and second conduit means, said valves being adapted to close ofi communication of said conduits with said tank, and including two additional conduits com- Aprising one additional conduit connected to said first conduit means and to a source of rinse solution whereby said rinse solution is adapted to be delivered to said spray head and another additional conduit connected to said second conduit means and to a disposal means whereby said rinse solution is adapted to be passed from said drain outlets for disposal.

4. A construction in acordance with claim 3 wherein said valve means operate to simultaneously close off communication between said tank and said first and second conduit means while opening communications between said additional conduits and said first and second conduit means, operation of said valves providing for by-passing of said tank during use of the rinse solution.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein said lid constructions are reciprocally mounted on said booms by means of pneumatic piston and cylinder constructions whereby the lid constructions can be raised and lowered for successively moving tubs into position for cleaning, and wherein controls for operating said valves and said pneumatic cylinders are all mounted in adjacent positions on a wall of said tank whereby a single operator can control cleaning operations for a plurality of tanks.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lid constructions are mounted reciprocally on said booms whereby the lid constructions can be raised and lowered so that tubs can rbe successively moved into position for cleaning.

7. A construction in accordance with claim 6 wherein said lid constructions are attached to a piston, and including pneumatic cylinders attached to said booms for operation of said pistons to provide for raising and lowering of the lid constructions.

8. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tank includes at least one compartment separated from the main body of the tank, one of said conduits communicating with said compartment for passage of `said cleaning agent into the compartment, lter means located in the compartment through which said cleaning agent passes, and means for transferring the ltered cleaning agent to the main body of the compartment.

9. A construction in accordance with claim 8 wherein a plurality of filters are located in said compartment, and including means for removably locating the ilters in the compartment for facilitating removal and replacement.

10. A construction in accordance with claim 8 wherein a pair of compartments are provided, said cleaning agent being adapted to pass downwardly through filters positioned in one of said compartments, outlet means dened at the bottom of said one compartment for communication with the other compartment, said cleaning agent being adapted to pass upwardly through lters located in said other compartment.

11. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including heating means located within said tank for controlling the temperature of the cleaning agent.

References Cited ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

1. A CONSTRUCTION FOR USE IN THE CLEANING OF TUBS USED FOR THE HANDLING OF CHEMICALS COMPRISING A TANK FOR HOLDING A CLEANING AGENT, A PLURALITY OF BOOMS ATTACHED TO SAID TANK, A LID CONSTRUCTION ATTACHED TO EACH OF SAID BOOMS, SAID LID CONSTRUCTION BEING DIMENSIONED TO EXTEND OVER THE OPEN TOP OF SAID TUBS TO THEREBY CLOSE SAID TUBS, A SPRAY HEAD ASSOCIATED WITH EACH LID CONSTRUCTION, SAID SPRAY HEADS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID LID CONSTRUCTIONS WHEREBY THE SPRAY HEADS EXTEND INTO THE INTERIORS OF SAID TUBS WHEN SAID LID CONSTRUCTIONS ARE IN PLACE OVER THE TUBS, CONDUITS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TUBS AND SAID TANK, AND MEANS FOR PASSING SAID CLEANING AGENT THROUGH SAID CONDUITS FOR CIRCULATION BETWEEN SAID TUBS AND SAID TANK. 